Sand dewatering wheel



June 22, 1943." J. c. BUCKBEE 2,322,415

SAND DEWATERING WHEEL Filed Jan. 16, 1939 VII/Ill m III;

INVENTOR.

I I John Cfiac/c e,

BY 2 x it v ATTORNEY5.

Patented June 22, 1943 .UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAND DEWATERING WHEEL John G. Buckbee, Los Angeles, Calif. Application Januarylfi, 1939, Serial No. 251,158

5 Claims.

The present invention 'is related generallyto maclnnery for handling granular material, and is more particularly concerned with apparatus for dewatering or removing from granular material the water or fluid content of the same that is present therein incidental to treatment with water or other fluids.

Various devices, such as screw conveyors set on an incline, chains dragging scrapers up an incline, mechanical rakes, various forms of separating wheels, etc., long have been used for the broad purpose for which the present invention is intended. These devices, however, have proven expensive to maintain and diificult to adjust to suit different materials as well as different conditions with similar materials. Moreover, these prior devices have failed to attain the desired separation of the fluids from the material to the required degree.

The main and primary object of this invention is the provision of dewatering apparatus of simple but rugged construction so designed and organized that maintenance is reduced to a minimum, but readily adjustable to meet and care for substantially any condition occurring in the operation of the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character set forth wherein separation of the fluids from the granular materials may be effected with a high degree of economy, and with a maximum percentage of recovery of the granular materials.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a dewatering wheel equipped with a plurality of buckets so constructed and arranged as to give free entrance to and discharge of the granular material, the construction and arrangement being such that fluid percolating from the granular material is caused to be freely discharged from the buckets and the latter automatically drained.

A further object contemplated is to embody in the dewatering wheel eflicient and effectual means for adjusting the angular position of the buckets on the wheel to suit varying conditions.

Other objects and advantages will appear as 'the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

The form of the invention herein shown and described is a practical embodiment of the same,

and attains the objectsand advantages sought described dewatering wheel.

to beaccomplished. It is susceptible to change, modification and variation, and the present dis-, closure, therefore, is to be taken fromthe illustrative standpoint and not as imposing restriction or limitationon the invention.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of 'a dewatering wheel constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional Viewthereof, as on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary elevation illustrating the bucket connections and the adjust: able mountings for the same; s j

"Fig. 4 is a detail fragmentary sectionalview taken through the connections and'mountings illustrated in Fig. 3,.as on the line 4-4, Fig. 3. Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawing, the numeral I0 designates a circular plate, preferably formed of sheet steel or other suitable material, and of the desired diameter, which plate I 0 constitutes the body of the herein- It is provided at its center with a flanged hub l l suitably fastened tothe body' plate 40, and said hub ll receives a shaft I2 by which the body plate Ill is carried and rotated. The ends of the shaft [2 are fitted within bearings [3, said bearings being mounted upon the side portions of a tank l4 tobe hereinafter more fully described.

The shaft I2 may bedriven by any desired form of motive power, and suitable gearing mayibe interposed between the shaft l2 and the prime mover to impart to the shaft l2 the required speed of rotation. For the purposes for wh ch the dewatering wheel is intended the speed of rotation of the body plate l0 should be relatively slow.

Associated with the body plate ll! is a plurality of buckets l5. These buckets are arranged in pairs, one of the same being disposed at each side of the body plate l0. Thus, oppositelydisposed series of the buckets l5 are located at the sides of the body plate I!) and extend around the periphery of the same.

Each pair of the buckets i5 is supported by an elongated bolt l6, each end of each of said bolts projecting sufficiently beyond the body plate ID to receive and accommodate one of the buckets [5. The bolts l6 likewise are received by, and find support in, sleeves I! carried by the body plate [0. The outer extremities of the bolts l6 are screw-threaded and have mounted thereon a plurality of fastening nuts 18, thereby to hold the buckets IS in place on the bolts l6. ,j,

The outer ends of the bolts I6 are tied together by a plurality of links l9, which links extend from bolt to bolt throughout the entire series of buckets, and being held in position thereon by the fastening nuts 18. These links ll] serve to strengthen the structure and to keep the buckets l aligned with respect to each other.

Each of the buckets l5 comprises a body member that is semicircular in cross-section, or of trough-like formation, the ends of the body member 20 being closed by terminal plates 2| located at the inner and outer ends of the body member 20, the terminal plates 2| and the body member 29 being suitably connected together so as to provide a unitary structure.

That the buckets I5 may be adjustably sup ported on their respective bolts 16 the latter with the bolts I6 as the centers from which these arcs are struck, and this permits the buckets [5 to be swung concentrically with respect to the bolts l6.

Each of the links I9 is provided with an opening wherein a holding bolt 23 is mounted, these bolts 23 being designed to register with and to enter any one of the openings 22 of the terminal plate 21 that is immediately contiguous thereto.

When the holding bolts 23 thus are engaged with g:

the terminal plates of the buckets i5 these buckets are held in different angular positions on the bolts l6.

The tank [4 is designed to receive the fluid that is charged with the granular material. fluid and material are fed to the tank M in a stream that is introduced by a feed spout 24 arranged above one end of the tank [4. A defleeting plate 25 is arranged across the end of the tank l4 adjacent the top of the latter at the point where the fluid and granular material enter the tank so that the stream is directed downwardly within the tank [4 to a point below the fluid line Ma therein. Extending from the lower edge of the deflecting plate 25 to the adjacent F end wall of the tank I4 is a horizontally-disposed screen 26. The size of the mesh of this screen is sufficient to permit the granular material to pass therethrough with the fluid. By reason of the greater specific gravity of the granular material it sinks to the bottom of the tank, and with a tank of the shape shown the granular material first would form a fill 21 somewhat along the dotted line 28 shown in the drawing. The deflecting plate 25 and the screen 26 constitute a receiving well for the material to be treated.

By passing the stream of fluid and granular material through the screen 26 turbulence within the tank I4 is greatly reduced and the efficiency The n of settling of the granular material promoted. A:

In the end of the tank [4 opposite to the defleeting plate 25 is located a dam 29', which is in the form of a vertically-disposedtransverselyfill to which reference has been made. The dam 29 is spaced from the adjacent end wall of the tank 14, in which end wall is mounted an outlet pipe 30, and by reason of the spaced relation of the dam 29 to the end wall of the tank M the fluid rises upwardly and flows over the dam 29 so as to pass out through the outlet pipe 39. The space between the dam 29 and the adjacent end wall of the tank serves as a delivery well for the fluid overflowing the dam 29.

In the operation of the herein described dewatering wheel the direction of rotation of the same is indicated by the arrow appearing in Fig. 1. With the movement of the wheel the buckets l5 dig into the material that has settled above fill line 28 and scoop up the same as they progressively move through the tank [4. In such movement the granular material will be carried out of the fluid in the tank, but more or less of the fluid also will be carried upwardly by the buckets as they rise from the fluid, particularly so if there is not sufficient granular material to fill the buckets completely. Even with the buckets completely filled some fluid will be carried out in the interstices between the grains of the granular material and this fluid will percolate to the bottom of the buckets in their upward movement with the rotation of the wheel. 7

That the fluid content in the buckets 15 may be drained therefrom and returned to the tank, the inner edge portions of the buckets, considered with respect to the periphery of the wheel, are provided with a series of discharge openings 3] Also V-shaped discharge notches 32 are provided in order to care for fluid in excess of the quantity that will discharge through the openings 3|.

The positioning of the discharge openings 31 and discharge notches 32 in their respective buck} ets is such that fluid discharged therefrom will fall back into the tank l4 after the buckets have passed upwardly somewhat beyond the horizontal center line of wheel rotation and will not fall into the following buckets.

As the buckets l5 approach the upper lefthand quarter of the cycle of rotation, as the apparatus is viewed in Fig. l, the granular material carried therein, due to the action of gravity, will fall out of the buckets. In order that the de; scending material may be caught and delivered from the apparatus, a pair of receiving hoppers 33 is employed. These hoppers are located at opposite sides of the body member 19 of the wheel and are of such transverse dimensions at the receiving end. that the granular material dropping from each of the buckets !5 will be caught by the receiving hoppers. With this. oppositely-disposed position of the hoppers 33-it will be obvious that the granular material .di'scharged by each circular series of buckets i5 at each side of the body member ID will be caught by the aligned receiving hopper 33 so as not to be returned to the tank l4. Each of the hoppers 33 is provided with a discharge spout 34 that passes through one of the side walls of the tank 14 so as to conduct the descending mass of the granular material from the receiving hoppers 33 and deliver the same at the exterior of the tank Ml. When so delivered the operation of separating the granular material from the fluid has been completed. I

It is obvious that different granular materials will possess different characteristics respecting flow into the buckets when the latter are digging in the tank, and also with respect to the dumping of th materials from the buckets in the discharge sector. To compensate forthese variations is the purpose of the openings 22 and material.

the holding bolts 23, this provision making it possible to adjust the buckets E on the bolts l6 so as to impart the entrance angle necessary for efficiently digging the granular material below the fluid line in the tank, and also for giving the discharge angle necessary for efficiently discharging the granular material at the upper quarter of the cycle of rotation.

Briefly recited, the operation of the hereindescribed dewatering wheel is as follows:

The stream of fluid and granular material discharging from the feed pipe 24 is received at the screen 26 and the deflecting plate 25 within the tank I4. With the screen 26 operating to reduce turbulence, settling of the granular material within the tank I4 follows. low movement of the fluid contributes to this settlement of the granular material, the water finding its way to the dam 29, rising and flowing over its upper edge, and finally being discharged through the outlet pipe 30.

In the rotary movement of the body member l0 and the associated buckets IS the submerged lower segment of the wheel passes through the water and the built-up fill 27 of the granular Each bucket scoops up its quota of the granular material, and as the buckets rise and emerge from the fluid of the tank the circular path which they follow changes their angular position with respect to the horizontal so that whatever fluid may remain in the buckets will pass out through the discharge openings 3| and the discharge notches 32, with a resultant draining of the respective buckets, but without the fluid, so drained, falling into the succeeding buckets. In the further rotation of the wheel the angular relation of the buckets to the horizontal increases so as to position them for dumping the granular material contained therein. This occurs when the buckets move over the receiving ends of the receiving hoppers 33. When received by the hoppers 33 th granular material passes downwardly therethrough and out through the discharge spouts 34 and thus is delivered from the apparatus at the exterior of the tank l4 largely freed from the fluid content and for disposal to the ultimate use of the granular material.

It will be observed that the fill 21 is in the zone of progressive travel of the buckets l5, and results from settlement of the granular component of the material being treated. Because of the effect of the screen 26 in reducing turbulence in the incoming body of fluid and granular material, settlement of the granular component is accelerated.

It is obvious the bottom of tank l4 might be made to substantially conform to fill line 28, if for any reason desired. The form of tank 14 shown by Fig. 1 is, of course, the most simple to construct.

I claim:

1. In a rotating dewatering apparatus of the type useable for transporting material mixed with water from one station to another While separating the material from the water, the combination comprising a rotatable plate, a plurality of buckets peripherally spaced around said plate in pairs, one of each of said pairs of buckets being pivotally carried on opposite sides of said plat by means of spaced apart carrying bolts connected to said plate, said bolts projecting on each side thereof and holding said buckets in spaced apart relationship, each of said bolts projecting beyond the side wall confines of each bucket which it carries and each projecting portion of adjoining bolts being connected by links secured thereto in order to hold said buckets in alignment and to strengthen said structure, said walls of said buckets having bucket-adjusting holes and said links having bucket-adjusting members adapted to be received by said adjusting holes whereby said buckets can angularly be adjusted and secured in desired position with respect to each other and to adjoining associated structure.

2. A structure of the type defined in claim 1 wherein said buckets each consists of a body member of trough-like formation, the ends of said body member being closed by inner and outer terminal end plates forming walls, said adjusting holes being located within said walls forming said outer terminal end plate.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination comprising a storage tank adapted to hold a granular material mixed with a washing liquid, a structure rotatable about its central axis within said tank and supported thereby, said structure carrying a plurality of spaced apart buckets peripherally mounted thereon and pivotally secured thereto by means of holding bolts and bucket adjusting members which hold the buckets at an angle no greater than the angle of repose for said granular material, said buckets being substantially semi-circular in cross section and spaced in the direction of rotation of said structure and adapted when rotating within said tank to scoop up a portion of said granular material and washing liquid, each bucket having a plurality of liquid drainage openings therein and a V-shaped drainage notch opposite its scooping end adapted to separate said liquid from said granular material before being emptied of its contents, a delivery station consisting of a hopper connected with the sides of said storage tank and associated with said rotating structure whereby, as the buckets rise and emerge from the liquid of the tank the circular path which they follow changes their angular position with respect to the horizontal so that whatever liquid may remain in the buckets will pass out through the drainage openings, and during the further rotation of said rotating structure the angular relation of the buckets to the horizontal increases so as to position them for dumping the granular material contained therein and deliver substantially dry granular material from the sides of said storage tanks.

4. In a tiltable dewatering receptacle including a body portion and a rim portion, for use in delivering material. mixed with water from a storage station to a delivery station, drainage openings for said water in said body portion, and a notched water discharge opening in said rim portion.

5. A receptacle as defined in claim 4 wherein said notched opening is substantially V-shaped and is located in that part of the rim portion that is tilted downwardly approaching said delivery station. I

JOHN C. BUCKBEE. 

